You guys know I have been renovating my house, giving it a good purging and imprinting my likes on everything. First the kitchen wall, then the living room, and now I have moved on to the master bedroom and bath. They are getting a new coat of a paint, and in the bathroom I am putting in granite cabinet tops, framed mirrors, frameless shower glass, a new privacy window, and new light fixtures. But the thing that really floats my boat? The thing I added to the list at the last minute because I could not find some running socks one morning? The Elfa closet system by Container Store. I bought it, the contractor installed it, and I have to say, I am head-over-heels in love.
Who knew that an organized closet was the one thing missing from my life? Who would have guessed that with plenty of shelves and drawers and storage, my life would be complete? Not me! But I am in bliss. I love it. I love that I can see all my clothes. I love that getting a new closet, which required me to empty the old, finally forced me to purge old clothes and shoes and Tshirts! OMG, I had dozens of cotton Tshirts with stupid slogans that are now winging their way to Africa or some other nation where our used Tshirts are sent. I loaded up my car twice–and I do mean loaded–with clothes I have never worn (some with tags on them) and shipped them off to Goodwill.
I was left with a closet that is actually much larger than I thought. I have space for all my shoes and now the ones I wear every day are off the floor. I have drawers for all my things I need when I come out of the shower, and I have storage up over head for the very expensive purses I don’t like anymore but refuse to take to Goodwill.
I am so happy I could spit. My life is complete. There is absolutely nothing else I need. Nothing.
But the upstairs bath could use a facelift…
What simple thing floats your boat? What thing do you have in your house that you love and would miss terribly if you had to move? What one thing would you change about your house?
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I would like the deed to the house to be in my name. I hate renting.
I am not organized.
My house is as messy as I am.
My living room is home to the tv, snakes, chameleons and other creepy crawlies.
The one thing I would miss most if I lost it in a move? My phone charger. I cannot live without my mobile/cellphone and I panic if I cannot charge it.
I have a plain three bedroom ranch with one bath. We raised two sons in this house. I would love to have a master bath and a walk-in closet. I keep telling my husband I’d love to turn one of the bedrooms into a walk-in closet and master bath and he laughs at the idea.
Your closet sounds fab, Julia! It’s amazing how quickly crap can accumulate and clog up the closets. I’m enjoying one of my favorite simple pleasures right now–peanut butter and jelly with a side of sliced banana. Simple and perfect.
Those are so pretty. I used to be a closet planner there and sadly I have the worlds worst closets. Can’t even configure them. If I could I’d take a sledgehammer and get to banging. I think like we be so much more blissful.
This reminds me of the Seinfeld episodes in which Jerry dated a closet planner. “Hooks! I see hooks everywhere, everything on hooks.”
Hahaa! I had forgotten that episode
Kwana, seriously? You WORKED as a closet planner at container store and didn’t drink the koolaid?
All kidding aside, I was kind of skeptical. But I am now a believer.
I’d miss living in the city. I’d miss my high ceilings and big closets (odd in NYC). I WOULD not miss my tiny kitchen. Or my inability to grill out. I was born an organizer. And I live with two messy people –which occasionally drives me insane, but mostly just gives me new stuff to organize.
I have been grilling out all summer long! But I think the city living is worth some sacrifice.
So many things I love about my house. I would miss my fireplaces and my tubs (the hot tub and the big tub which is in the bathroom in the apartment), cozy touches that help me through stressful times and long New England winters. But, I would change the bathrooms around so that the big tub was in my master bath and the guest apartment had a standing shower instead. My master bath has a great shower, no tub. The guest apartment has the tub with a shower nozzle, but no actual shower. It’s kind of messed up, really.
And I can’t use my tub now with my dad living in the apartment (something I would definitely change) plus he has to come to the other part of the house to use the shower. Inconvenient.
That is tres inconvenient. I recommend a complete bathroom remodel! Times 2!
Hahaha, who knew? Um, considering the number of times you have blogged, emailed, or status updated about organizing your closets throughout our long friendship, who could know? No one I know has talked about going through her closets more than Julia F. London. I assumed you already had the most kick ass coordinated and organized closets in town. My closets? You don’t want to know. But it involves a complicated system of trash bags and stacked/stuffed cardboard boxes. I will never be organized.
Ohmigod, a shudder of terror just ran through me.
I live to terrify.